user avatar

Sr. Principal Chief Engineer/Hardware IPT Lead

Northrop Grumman

Posted today

Job Requirements

Baltimore, MD
Secret Polygraph Unspecified
Career Level not specified
$135,800 - $203,600

Job Description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the TimeDescription

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work - and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems has an opportunity available for a Sr. Principal Chief Engineer to join our team of qualified and diverse individuals. The selected candidate will serve as a Hardware Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead on a production program within the Advanced Mission Capabilities organization. This position will be located in Baltimore, MD, and placement will be commensurate with qualifications.

What You'll Get To Do:

This individual will serve as a Hardware IPT Lead, leading a cross-discipline engineering team typically greater than 5 people for a low to medium risk project and interface with Engineering & Program Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Mission Assurance. The selected candidate will perform in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations, significantly diverse assignments, and collaborative/team settings. The selected candidates are expected to be self-motivated, highly organized, and detail oriented and possess effective verbal and written communication skills.

Roles & Responsibilities:
  • Work with the support and oversight of an Engineering Program Manager (EPM) to execute various system level hardware and hardware test projects on a production program
  • Control Account Manager: manage the cost and schedule of the system level projects
  • Lead engineering teams to define changes to hardware or hardware test sets (specifically Near Field Ranges and Far Field Ranges) to allow for increased production capacity and throughput
  • Lead test time reduction (TTR) initiatives
  • Work alongside manufacturing to provide recommendations to improve processes and reduce rework to increase production capacity and throughput
  • Work alongside supply chain teams to procure additional Near Field and Far Field test sets to increase production capacity and throughput
  • Work with external suppliers to assess their ability to meet increased production demand
  • Lead engineering team in hardware/software integration (I&T) of near field and far field test sets
  • Work alongside quality to lead IRV or V&V of additional near field and far field range test sets (test set certification)
  • Status/brief IPTs, Program Management, and Customer Leadership on assigned projects
  • Interface with functional departments as needed to secure team staffing


This role is contingent upon candidates having an active/current U.S. Government Secret Clearance, and program funding availability.

Basic Qualifications:
  • Must have an active/current U.S. Government Secret Clearance. Secret clearance is required to start. Must be able to maintain this level of clearance for continued employment.
  • Bachelor's Degree in a STEM field and a minimum of 8 years related experience, or Master's Degree in STEM and a minimum of 6 years related experience. An additional 4 years of experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
  • 2 years of experience as a Technical/Engineering Lead on an engineering project, in a team environment
  • 2 years of experience with Hardware design, Hardware test, or Hardware operations/manufacturing processes
  • Experience providing technical and/or programmatic presentations and status
  • Experience with Near Field or Far Field Range Testing


Preferred Qualifications:
  • Active and current Top Secret government clearance
  • 2 years of experience as an Integrated Product Team (IPT) Lead, Technical lead, or other leadership role in a program office or business function with demonstrated team building, organizational, and interpersonal skills
  • Experience with hardware test on a low-rate initial production (LRIP) program or full-rate production (FRP) program
  • Experience with IRV/V&V test sets
  • Experience as a Control Account Manager (CAM) managing Earned Value Management System (EVMS) projects
  • Experience with Radio Frequency (RF) and Electromagnetic concepts and principles
  • Fluency with developing and executing project schedules


Primary Level Salary Range: $135,800.00 - $203,600.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
group id: 10122071

The Classified Life

job ad image
Find Northrop Grumman on Social Media
Network Employers
user avatar
About Us
Northrop Grumman solves the toughest problems in space, aeronautics, defense and cyberspace to meet the ever-evolving needs of our customers worldwide. Our 90,000 employees are Defining Possible every day using science, technology and engineering to create and deliver advanced systems, products and services. Northrop Grumman careers and internships are as varied as your interests, with a lifetime of potential that will allow you to work together with people from many backgrounds, personal passions and disciplines. © 2025 Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.
job ad2 image

Northrop Grumman Jobs


Job Category
IT - Hardware
Clearance Level
Secret